Appalachian State close to accepting Sun Belt invite?

Boone, NC (Sports Network) - Appalachian State's premier FCS program could be
ready to move up to the FBS level.

Reporter Tommy Bowman of the Winston-Salem Journal tweeted on Monday that a
source at Appalachian State said the Southern Conference program will accept an
invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference this week, possibility announcing a
move on Wednesday.

The Mountaineers program is the only one in FCS history to win three straight
national titles - from 2005 to '07 under former coach Jerry Moore - and has won
at least a share of seven of the last eight Southern Conference titles.

Appalachian State has led the FCS in attendance in five of the past six years,
including an average of 26,358 fans per game this past season, when the
Mountaineers had an 8-4 record and made the national playoffs for the eighth
straight season.

The SoCon's other's big power, six-time FCS national champion Georgia Southern,
also is pursuing a move up to the FBS.